Menendez Will Resign From Senate in August
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Following his felony conviction earlier this month, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) submitted his resignation letter on Tuesday. The letter states he will step down from his Senate seat on August 20th.
The Details: On July 16, Menendez was convicted of 16 felony counts for using his position as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to benefit the governments of Egypt and Qatar in exchange for bribes. Through the past week, Menendez has insisted he would remain in the Senate as many of his colleagues, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), demanded he resign and prepared to expel him if necessary.
Key Quote: “While I fully intend to appeal the jury’s verdict, all the way and including to the Supreme Court, I do not want the Senate to be involved in a lengthy process that will detract from its important work,” wrote Menendez in the letter.
How the Media Covered It: Sources across the spectrum noted the near-unanimity among Democrats in calling for Menendez to resign. Fox News (Right bias), Washington Times (Lean Right), and CNN (Lean Left) mentioned Menendez’s previous corruption trial, which ended in 2017 with a deadlocked jury. Fox highlighted that Schumer “held off” on calling for Menendez’s resignation after the Department of Justice first announced the charges in September 2023. Daily Beast (Left) quoted prominent New Jersey Democrats denouncing Menendez.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Right
U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey to resign Aug. 20 after corruption conviction![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Right AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Right](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-leaning-right.png)
![](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image_300x200/public/Menendez_Bribery_96336_c0-142-3398-2123_s885x516_0.jpg?itok=LIytDKhG)
TRENTON, N.J. — U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez is resigning from office Aug. 20 following his conviction for taking bribes for corrupt acts including acting as an agent of the Egyptian government, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Menendez had insisted after the July 16 verdict that he was innocent and promised to appeal. The person who told the AP about Menendez’s resignation did so on the condition of anonymity because the New Jersey Democrat’s decision hadn’t been made public. Menendez’s attorney hasn’t returned messages seeking comment....
From the Center
Menendez says he will appeal guilty verdict ‘all the way’ to Supreme Court![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Center AllSides Media Bias Rating: Center](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-center.png)
Convicted New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) says he plans to appeal his guilty verdict on 16 charges ranging from bribery and extortion to obstruction of justice “all the way” to the Supreme Court, if necessary.
Menendez said in a letter dated July 23 to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, and the Senate confirmed, that he will resign from the Senate effective Aug. 20, but he’s not admitting any guilt.
Instead, Menendez said he plans to appeal the verdict but cited concerns that he cannot fully preserve his legal rights if the Senate Ethics Committee conducts...
From the Left
Guilty ‘Gold Bar Bob’ Menendez Set to Resign on Pay Day![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Left AllSides Media Bias Rating: Left](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-left.png)
![](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image_300x200/public/2024-07-16T175245Z_1102579099_RC2HW8A57C39_RTRMADP_3_USA-POLITICS-MENENDEZ_oqpn6l.jpg?itok=FjBinSpf)
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is set to resign from Congress after he was found guilty two weeks ago of accepting bribes, including $150,000 in gold bars from Egyptian officials and an $80,000 Mercedes-Benz, the New Jersey Globe reports.
Menendez was found guilty on 16 counts of bribery, conspiracy, extortion, obstruction of justice, wire fraud, conspiracy and acting as a foreign agent last week.
Sources close to Menendez told the outlet that he will step down on Aug. 20, and that he would release a letter on Tuesday announcing his resignation.
Interestingly, Menendez’s departure coincides with pay-day...
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